Hurricanes developing into area's best sleeper team

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, October 20, 2007

And as I look now, the Rangers are No. 6 in the HCN Top 10. So forgive me as I quote President Bush and say, "I now have political capital, and I intend to spend it."

My first measure is to talk about a Fort Bend ISD team that looked like it could be one of the tougher teams in the area, but a bad start to the season made several high school football pundits turn away from them.

A lot of people were down on Hightower after it started the season 0-3. Many already have dismissed the Hurricanes as a one-hit wonder: a team that will not make it past the first round of the playoffs.

But the 'Canes have done a nice job of circling the wagons and rallying back to respectability, and an outside shot of winning district. Thanks to an offense with an arsenal of weapons and a defense that has found its tenaciousness, Hightower can be a dangerous foe for the rest of the season.

Austin coach Tom Stuart called Hightower "the best 0-3 team in the Houston area" when his Bulldogs faced Hightower a month ago. And looking back at how the 'Canes lost those games, he was right. The opener against Hastings was a deceptive 14-7 loss because the second half of that game was cancelled because of weather. Hightower did look lethargic against the Bears, but a second-half comeback could have been in the cards if the weather held up.

Against Klein Forest, Hightower lost a close game against a team that was not only ranked in the top 10 in the area, but also in the state. But after a punt return for a touchdown by Darius Johnson put the 'Canes up by two, but a field goal with 1:36 left gave Klein Forest a 27-26 win. Hightower didn't play extremely well, but had a shot to upset a top team.

Then against Clements, Hightower fell behind 20-0 at halftime before waking up in the second half, scoring 27 points. But that was not enough, as the Rangers held on for a 30-27 win.

Again, the 'Canes did not play its best, but it had a chance to win late in the game.

But now, Hightower has healed itself in district play, as wins over Austin and Elkins have put the 'Canes back as a formidable team in District 23-5A. In the win over Austin, the Hightower defense not only bottled up the running game, but finally got pressure on the quarterback in a 41-6 blowout. Meanwhile, junior quarterback A.J. Highsmith and the running back-by-committee trio of Kentral Hollingsworth, Cleon Davis and London Hamilton have finally gotten the running game going. Talented receivers like Clyde Lee, Anthony Laday, Darius Johnson and Martin Bayless each has the ability to make the big play.

Next week's game against Marshall will tell how far the Hurricanes can go this season. The Buffaloes matchup well on both sides of the ball, and both teams have speed at the skill positions. A win here will put the district - as well as the Houston area - that Hightower is still a contending team.

If Hightower continues its stellar play and is one of the playoff teams in 23-5A, the 'Canes will be a tough first-round opponent. It is more likely that Hightower would go into Division I if it makes the postseason, meaning it would likely face Pearland or Clear Lake in the first round. Both of those teams are very good, and I recommend heading out to wherever this game is to see an entertaining ball game.

Now, here's my picks for this week:

Hightower vs. Dulles: I keep waiting for the Dulles offense to explode this season. With all the weapons the Vikings have at receiver, they should be among the leaders in passing in the area. But quarterback Tucker Morrow has struggled so far this year, throwing interceptions at the worst possible times. Watch for Hightower to be aggressive on pressuring the quarterback, while using its receivers in different ways to use its speed advantage against them. The 'Canes will continue to roll. Hightower 31, Dulles 21.

Elkins vs. Kempner: This is a key district game for Kempner, because this could be another one of those tiebreaker games that could determine who is in or out of the playoffs. The Cougars haven't been the most explosive offensive team, but their tandem of Kendall Blackshear and Josh Bell has been able to get some explosive plays. The Cougar defense has played well for the most part this season, but they will have their hands full with Elkins quarterback Broderick Thomas. Look for the Knights to move the ball down the field, but have a hard time stopping the Kempner running game. Kempner 21, Elkins 20.

Clements vs. Willowridge: Don't count the Eagles out as a playoff contender yet. Coach Darrell Scurlock has pieced together a squad that has kept fighting all year, and that has them right in the thick of things in the district. But they will be tested by a tough Clements team that could be fighting for a district title. The Ranger defense has played well against the run lately, and I think that will continue here. Clements 31, Willowridge 17.

Austin vs. Marshall: The Buffs are still a beat-up team that is missing a lot of key players, especially on offense. But as long as defensive end Jeremy Coleman and the rest of the defensive unit stay strong, this team is still one of the area's best. Austin needs to establish the running game, but mix the run and pass to take the pressure off of quarterback Benn Fairbanks. However, Marshall is just too strong for the Bulldogs in the trenches. Marshall 28, Austin 14.

Last week: 3-1

Overall Record: 15-6

And don't forget to log onto HCNFootball.com for a recap of all the action in District 23-5A and across the Houston area.

Chad Washington is the sports writer for the Fort Bend/Sugar Land Sun, and can be reached at cwash ington@hcnonline.com.